Talented short course performer Holy Racket completed a winning Good Friday double for Westbury Stud graduates at Yarra Valley.
The pacy three-year-old son of Swiss Ace produced an impressive frontrunning performance from an awkward gate under 59.5kg over 1200 metres to account for his older opposition.
He was bred by Gerry Harvey, as was Redwood’s daughter Crimson Light who was also a stylish winner earlier on the program.
The progressive Holy Racket now has four wins and five placings from his 11 appearances and was ridden by Craig Williams for his father Allan and brother Jason.
“Craig’s instructions were to jump, lead and win so it worked out perfectly,” Jason Williams said.
Holy Racket was quickly into stride to cross and make the running and he coasted clear in the run home to put his rivals away by three and three-quarter lengths.
“He’s come back better this time around and it was his first win at 1200 metres, but we always thought that he would get it no problem,” Williams said.
Holy Racket was purchased out of Westbury’s draft at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale for A$120,000 by Merrick Staunton on behalf of Price Bloodstock Management.
He is the first winner for the Redoute’s Choice mare Katie’s Choice, a daughter of the dual Listed winner Kakakakatie, who is a half-sister to the multiple winners and stakes performers Sebrakate and Quattro Katie.
Since Holy Racket, Katie’s Choice has produced a pair of colts by Reliable Man, a daughter of Hello Youmzain and is in foal to Redwood.
Meanwhile, the genuine Crimson Light furthered her record with a dominant victory in the Country Oaks over 1950 metres.
Also partnered by Williams, the Mick Kent-trained mare settled on the leader’s quarters before taking control 900 metres from home and stayed on strongly to win by a length and a-quarter.
It was her fourth career victory from 13 starts and a further six placings emphasises her honest nature.
Crimson Light was bought out of Westbury’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft by agent Phill Cataldo for $50,000 and is a daughter of the unraced Encosta De Lago mare Pure Light whose five foals to race have all been successful.
The up-front pedigree features the Group winners Light Up My World, World Peace and Chivalry with Group 1 winners Bentley Biscuit and Thorn Park also members of the family.
Pure Light produced a sister to Crimson Light last year and is back on foal to High Chaparral’s Group 1-winning son Redwood.